Signal To Noise Podcast

Michael Lawrence talks with Kyle, Chris and Sam while out on tour with Volbeat & Ghost as the Audio Systems Engineer.  They discuss "Imposter Syndrome", the system design, Michael's tuning process,  and more. Follow the tour with pictures in a series called 50 days of SE Life in our Discord Server and our Facebook Group This episode is sponsored by Audix and Allen & Heath ....

On episode 140 the hosts are joined by Brad Berridge and Brandon Conely to discuss their work with Feld Entertainment.  They talk about the design and deployment of touring arena-level audio systems for shows like Disney On Ice, Ringling Bros. Circus, Jurassic World Live, and more. Feld Entertainment is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting live touring family entertainment experiences....

On Episode 139 the hosts are joined by the humble but legendary David '5-1' Norman.  He tells many stories from his time with Prince. They talk about how he got the nickname '5-1', how empathy and respect is at the core of a successful Tour Manager, and more. This episode is sponsored by Audix and Allen & Heath . With over 35 years of international tour experience, David &a...

In episode 138 Brent Washburn joins the hosts to talk about his work as FOH & TM for Canadian Pop artist JESSIA .  Michael Lawrence recently worked with Brent at Outside Lands Festival. They talk about how he was 10db below the SPL limit yet his mix sounded huge and what goes into that approach. Brent talks about how he used his downtime over the past two years to perfect his craft. Brent Wash...

Kyle Chirnside was a guest on the Beyond The Backstage Pass show. He talked about the work we are doing with Signal to Noise, his time touring, working for manufacturers as well as his current job, Audio Operations Manager at Gateway Studios & Production Services. You can watch the video here: https://youtu.be/GHVZdJdKOAg

on episode 137 the hosts are joined by John Troxell ( aka Trox) who is currently the FOH for Andrew McMahon Into the Wilderness. They talk about how John got his start on Warped Tours and what that scene was like at the time. Micheal Lawrence had recently run into Trox at Outside Lands Festival, they talk about his approach to mixing Andrew McMahon and other artists he has worked with in the past....

In this session from the recent SoundGirls.org Virtual Conference, Signal To Noise podcast co-host Chris Leonard and Steve Adelman, vice president of the Event Safety Alliance and head of the Adelman Law Group, discuss contracts for freelancers, including everything from what defines a contract, cancellation clauses, documentation, and best practices. This is a tough topic to navigate for many; ho...

Krysten Dean AKA "KD" joins the hosts on episode 136. KD  is a touring  Systems Engineer and Crew Chief working for Eighth Day Sound Systems. They discuss her untraditional path of jumping into the audio industry at the age of 30 after she graduated from Full Sail University.  She is focused on mentoring and giving back to the audio community. KD is also passionate about changing the nar...

Daniel Ramirez returns to the show on episode 135 to discuss his work with The Wood Brothers. They discuss getting re-acclimated to touring and mixing after being home from the pandemic. With the bluegrass and folk style music, they discuss various approaches to mixing one mic scenarios as well as other live elements and the impact that has on the experience. Check out episode 42 with  Daniel Rami...

Brandon Blackwell joins the hosts on episode 134, to discuss his fast pace and successful career. He graduated from Full Sail University in 2013 and quickly thereafter was working with artists like TLC and Ne-Yo. Blackwell recently started working with Kendrick Lamar, and he talks about manifesting his career and what it means to be where he is today. Blackwell is always driving for diversity with...

The full Signal to Noise crew - Michael Lawrence, Chris Leonard and Kyle Chirnside, with regular guest hosts Hannah Goodine, Willa Snow and Jade Payne, gather to share some reflections on the past year and positive community discussion. The show is happy to welcome back some previous guests and friends of the show including Leo Pisaq (FOH, Lawrence the Band), Daniel Liston Keller (Get It In Writin...

Freelance engineer Darcy McIntosh (FOH, Hinds) discussed her start, her approach to learning the craft of audio, the importance of mentors, and her brief brush with troubleshooting stardom. This episode is sponsored by Audix and Allen & Heath . Be sure to check out the Signal To Noise Facebook Group , & Discord Server It’s a space for listeners to create to generate conversations around th...

Noted FOH mixer Kyle Hamilton (Janet Jackson, Rhianna, Lionel Richie) talks about his approach to interpreting Grammy-winning recordings in a live setting, shares some thought-provoking advice on mixing shows with playback elements, and discusses his career development. This episode is sponsored by Audix and Allen & Heath . Be sure to check out the Signal To Noise Facebook Group , & Discor...

In episode 130, Matt Carter of the band Emery joins the hosts to discuss the process behind their recent virtual concert & album release. Matt talks about cultivating the experience with a band he always envisioned as a kid, and how he brings that to life in the mixing process. They also discuss how to prioritize your workflow on any given project, how to give or get constructive feedback, and...

In episode 129 the hosts are joined by Jeri Palumbo to discuss broadcast audio for NFL games. They get into all aspects of the job from mixing in the truck, A2 work on the field, RF coordination, parabolic microphones, and more. Jeri Palumbo is a Broadcast Sports and Entertainment Mixer based in Los Angeles. Jeri has been working in audio for over 30 years, first as a trained musician and arranger...

Michael Lawrence presented a workshop at CFX ( Church Facilities Conference & Expo )  called “Absolute Essentials of System Gain Structure“, in Dallas on October 26, 2021 You can watch this presentation here: https://vimeo.com/643036495/53e6448d57 Be sure to check out the Signal To Noise Facebook Group , & Discord Server It’s a space for listeners to create to generate conversations around...

In episode 128 the hosts are joined by Brett" Scoop" Blanden who has been the front-of-house engineer for Lady A over the last 11 years. Scoop talks about his progression of consoles with Lady A  and how he manages a 96 input show.  They also discuss how Scoop got his start as well as how he turned his house into a recording studio, virtual concert space, and rehearsal space. They also h...

On Episode 127 the hosts are joined by Leo Pisaq who is the front-of-house engineer for the band Lawrence . They discuss the back story on how he got into audio and what lead him to work with Lawrence ( the band). Leo talks about balancing mixing monitors from front of house, how his love for music translates to moving or resonating with people while mixing, and more. This episode is sponsored by...

On Episode 126 the hosts are joined by Kent Margraves.  He earned a B.S. in Music Theory and has been mixing audio for about 30 years. Margraves made a career of managing the delicate blend of art and science that is front-of-house sound. He’s worked with a long list of notable artists and venues across the globe, and has led hundreds of audio seminars and workshops as well as authored various tra...

On Episode 125 the hosts are joined by Sean "Sully" Sullivan , who has over 26 years of  Touring and Television Mixing experience. They talk about the expectation of a "Record" quality mix coming out of our live consoles even when you are not a "studio engineer". Sully talks about some of his experiences with system engineers from one-offs to tours and how he handles...

On episode 124 the hosts are joined by Adam Labov. Many of the artists He works with are support acts on major tours. They discuss the relatiosnhip of support acts with headliners as well as pulling double duty as Tour Manager and FOH Engineer on the same tour. They also discuss the importance of being able to relate or in tune with the artist and music you are mixing in order to translate it well...

Mixer and producer Kyle Black joins the hosts this week to talk about his work with artists like State Champs, Pierce the Veil, New Found Glory, 5 Seconds of Summer, and All Time Low. He shares how he takes cues from live sound reinforcement for his studio mixes and production techniques, shares some of his professional inspirations, and discusses - with guest host Chris Miller (FOH, State Champs,...

Chris Miller (FOH, Blackbear) joins the hosts to chat about his mixing approach, adapting mixing techniques to different genres of music, bouncing between house of worship and touring work, and conveying emotion through his mixes. They also discuss the role that the mix engineers plays in the artist's artistic vision, and Kyle wishes for a tour bus. This episode is sponsored by Audix and Alle...

The legendary David Morgan returns to the podcast on episode 121. He talks about how the current James Taylor tour is going, along with discussing his approach to mixing. They also discuss what it looks like to think about the end of your career, and how to mentally and financially prepare for it. Check out David's first episode on Signal To Noise episode 52 Check out both How We Got Loud epi...

The hosts are in the same room for the first time. Episode 120 was live from CFX ( Church Facilities Conference & Expo ),  where Kyle and Chris hosted the LiveSoud Magazine speaker demo room. They talk about how to get the most out of a trade show, the attendee vs. manufacture experience, and more. They are also joined by many guests such as Keith Clark ( Editor and Chief of ProSoundWeb ), Kar...